Gas burner ignition device



Feb. 21, 1939. F. A WEGENER GAS BURNER IGNITION DEVICE Filed Jan. 16,1936 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE GAS BURNER IGNITION DEVICEFrancis A. Wegener, Gloucester City, N. .latassiznor to WelsbachCompany, Gloucester City, `N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication January 16, 1336, Serial No. 59,369

Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the valved control of the owoifluids, More particularly, it relates "to the valved control of the flowof fluid fuel to burners such 'as 'gas burners.

In gas burners it is customary to provide a thermostatioally operatedsafety shut-01T which automatically shuts off the supply of gas to theburner should the burner flame become extinguished for `any reason, Insuch Vburners it is customary to provide means for igniting the burnercomprising manually operated, springclosed, bypass Valve meansVcontrolling a bypass flow around the main `or burner yvalve which isshut off by the thermostat safety shut-off. This `bypass flow, whenignited, `serves to operate the thermostatic means Acontrolling theburner valve,

causing it to open that valve. When the burner valve has been openedsufliciently `to provide a suiicient iiow of `gas therethrough 'toprovide a self-maintaining flame at the burner ports, the bypass flow isterminated. This operation takes an appreciable interval of time, andthe necessity of manually holding the bypass valve open for this periodlconstitutes an annoyance to the user of the burner.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide apparatus inthe use of which a bypass flow may be established around a closed valveand, without further attention bythe operator, automatically terminatedupon the opening of the said valve Ya predetermined distance.

Another object of `the invention 4is to provide improved, valved,ignition apparatus for burners of the automatic thermostatic safetyshut-off type embodying means for :automatically maintaining the bypassilow to the burner for the period required by the `thermostatic means toopen the main burner valve 'suflioiently to establish a selfmaintainingllame and for automatically shutting off the bypass flow thereafter.

Other objects of the invention will appear in connection with thedescription of the attached figures which form a part of thisspeciiication and which show a form of the invention chosen forillustration, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a `gas burner, burner valve,thermostatic safety shut-oil and ignition unit, with some parts shown inelevation.

Figure 2 vshows an end View yoi a portion of the apparatus oi Figure 1,with parts in cross-section.

Referring to the drawing, I generally indicates the burner valve casingprovided with the charnber 3 on the gas inlet side of. the main orburner valve lwhich seats on seat 5. The burner valve "9&4 establishesor cuts off communication between the chamber 3 and the chamber Ii onthe outlet side of the valve which is in open communication with theburner tube 1 which is provided with burner ports indicated 'at 8.

The burner valve is provided with the stem 9, which terminates "in or isattached to the adjusting screw I6 which is in threaded engagement withthe end of the burner tube. II isa lock-nut for looking the `adjustingscrew I0.

'The other end of the `stem `Sl fits loosely in a recess I2 in the discof thevalve 4, abutting a washer I3 arranged ina spring chamber I4 inthe valve body provided with the spring I5 which is seated lagainst theValve body and the Washer.

The valve disc is recessed at IB to Areceive Athe trigger cap member I1,which is in loose sliding engagement with therecess and in tightengagement with the trigger pin I8. The cap member I'I also 'forms a'collar-bearing at I9, with the hollow lug 20 formed on the interior `ofvalve casing and extending `within the chamber 3. The trigger pin I8passes through the lug 20 and slides "in the bushing `2v`I in valvecasing I. The `capv member I1 also forms a `seat for one end 'of thespring 22, the other end of which is vseated against the interiorl ofthevalve casing I. The trigger cap and pin move as one piece `and togethermay be termed the "trigger.

23 generally indicates the ignition valve unit which is attached to thevalve casing I as, for instance, by screws such as 24 (shown in Fig. 2).Chamber 3 in the valve casing `I is in open communication with thechamber 25 in the ignition valve unit 2'3 by Way -of passage 26 in thevalve casing 'I and the ignition valve unit 23. `Chamber 25 Ais`provided with the spring-closed, flash lighter ValvelZI, whichestablishes or cuts voff communication from the chamber 25, `by way ofpassage 28 in the ignition valve unit and the valve casing I, to thetorch 29, which is adapted to direct a flame to the burner ports'B.

In the apparatus illustrated, the Valve 21 is manually operated by thepush-button 30 to open the valve, and is provided with the spring 3|adapted to close the valve on the seat 32 when pressure on thepush-button is released. f

The chamber `25 is also provided with the spring-closed valve 33,provided with seat 34 and spring 35 and adapted to establish or out ofi"communication between chamber 25 and the chamber 6, by way of passage 36and annularpassage 3'1 in the ignition valve unit and passage 38 in theburner valve `casing I, providing a bypass around the burner valve 4when valve 33,is open.

Within the chamber "25 and positioned vbetween the valves 21 and 33,there is provided the notched latch-block 39, provided with notch 49.The block ts loosely Within the chamber and is adapted to be movedlongitudinally in the chamber by the valve 21 on, the opening of thatvalve, thereby actuating valve 33 to open it against the pressure of thespring 35.

The latch-block 39 is pressed laterally against the end of the triggerI8 by the spring 4I, so that on movement of the latch-block by lthevalve 21, when the burner valve 4 is closed, the notch 48 is adapted toengage the end of the trigger I8 which extends slightly beyond the faceof the bushing 2l and into the chamber 25 in the closed position of theburner valve.

The passage 38 is provided with throttling means, as for instance thethrottling screw 42, to adjust the quantity of gas bypassed around theburner valve 4 when the Valve 33 is open. This screw may be covered asby the plug 43.

44 indicates an orifice plug with an orice 45 of diameter chosen withregard to the gas rating of the burner for the duty required of it.

In operation, the adjusting screw I0 on the valve stem 9 is so adjustedthat, when the burner tube 1 is cold and contracted in length, theburner valve 4 is tightly seated and the gas shut off from the burner,and, when the burner tube is hot and expanded in length by the heat ofthe combustion at the burner tube, the burner valve 4 is moved 0E theseat 5 to pass freely the gas flow permitted by the orice 45.

The bushing 2I is set so that, when the burner tube is cold and theburner valve 4 is closed, the

*Mend of the trigger I1-I8 projects slightly beyond the face of thebushing.

To ignite the burner, assuming gas has been turned on 4from the gassupply, the push-button 38 is pressed downward, opening the flashlighter valve 21 and moving the latch-block 39 longitudinally of thechamber 25, thereby opening the bypass valve 33.

As the chamber 25 is in open communication with the gas inlet 2 by Wayof chamber 3 in the valve casing and passage 2'6 in the valve casing andignition Valve unit, the opening of valve 21 admits gas to the torch 29by way of passage 28, and the opening ofvalve 33 admits gas to burnerport 8 by way of passage 36, annular passage 31, passage 38, chamber 6in the valve casing and the burner tube 1.

The gas issuing from the torch 29 may be ignited by any convenientmeans, as by a match or by a constantly burning pilot flame. Theresulting torch flame is projected to the burner ports, igniting the gasbypassed around the burner valve 4 by the opening of valve 33.

In the movement of the latch-block 39, as the block slides, the block isurged against the end of the trigger 2I by the spring 4I. The notch 48,moving opposite to the slightly projecting end of the trigger, isengaged thereon by the lateral pressure of the spring 4I, latching theblock in this position and holding the valve 33 open,

maintaining the bypass flow to the burner ports Aafter pressure on thepush-button 38 is released and the valve 21 closed by the spring 3l,cutting oi the gas flow to the torch l29 and extinguishing the torchname. Y

The heat developed by the combustion of the 4bypass gas flow warms theburner tube, causing it to expand and lengthen. The pressure of thespring 22 causes the valve 4, stem 9, the trigger cap I1 and trigger pinI8, to follow the movement of the far end of the burner tube 1, the

trigger cap member I1 sliding on the lug 20, and the trigger pin I8sliding within the bushing 2|. The movement of the valve 4 opens thedirect flow to the burner tube from chamber 3 through the valve 4-5 andchamber 6. When the valve has opened suiliciently, the movement of thetrigger causes the trigger pin I8 no longer to project beyond the faceof the bushing, withdrawing the end of the trigger from the notch 48 inthe latchblock 39. This releases the Valve 33, which is closed by theaction of the spring 35, cutting off the bypass ow around the burnerValve 4. The closure of the valve 33 moves the latch-block, so that thenotch 40 is no longer opposite the end of the trigger pin I8.

Should the burner ilames be extinguished for any reason, the cooling andconsequent shortening of the burner tube moves the stem 9 inwardlytoward the seat, reseating the burner valve 4. The stiff spring I5,interposed between the end of the stem and the Valve body, releases theparts from undue strain which might be imposed by the shortening of theburner tube. 'I'he seating of the valve 4 moves the trigger so that itagain extends slightly beyond the face of the bushing 2I and against thelatch-block 39, so that the apparatus is automatically in position forthe above-described ignition operation.

It will be seen from the above description that it is unnecessary tohold the ash lighter valve and the bypass valve open manually until thecombustion of the bypass heats the burner tube suciently to open theburner valve. It is only necessary to turn on the gas from the supplyand momentarily press the button, igniting the torch with a match orpilot ilame. The button may then be released and the maintenance of thebypass flow and its shut-off are automatically performed without furtherattention.

By adjusting the bushing 2|, the length of the projection of the'triggerpin I8 beyond the face of the bushing in the closed position of theburner valve may be changed to adjust the release of valve 33 and thecut-off of the bypass flow with respect to the degree of opening of theburner valve, so that the bypass ow is not cut off until the burner tubereaches a sufficiently high temperature to provide a self-maintainingflame by way of the open burner Valve.

The trigger cap member I1 sliding on the lug 28 and the trigger pin I8sliding in the bushing 2I form bearings to guide the movement of theburner valve 4, While the loose fit of the Valve stem 9 and the triggercap member I1 in the disc of valve 4 provides suilicient freedom topermit the valve to adjust itself on the seat 5.

I do not intend to be limited save as the scope of the prior art and ofthe attached claims may require.

I claim:

l. A gas burner ignition device comprising, a casing having an inlet andan outlet therein, a main valve controlling the supply of gas from saidinlet to said outlet, a thermostatic device controlling said main valveand arranged to operate when heated by combustion of gas supplied tosaid outlet, a bypass conduit between said inlet and said outlet andbypassing said main valve, a bypass valve controlling said bypassconduit, a torch adapted to play a jet of name to ignite gas passingfrom said outlet, a torch conduit leading from said inlet to said torch,a torch valve controlling said torch conduit, a latch block interposedbetween said torch valve and said by- Passvalve so that movement of saidtorch valve Cil to open position opens said bypass valve, and a latchcontrolled by said main valve for holding said latch block in positionto hold said bypass valve open when said main valve is closed.

2. A gas burner ignition device comprising, a casing having an inlet anda plurality of burner outlets therein, a main valve controlling thesupply of gas from said inlet to said outlets, a spring stressing saidvalve toward open position, a rod connected to a portion of said casingand to said main Valve, whereby said valve can open upon expansion ofsaid portion of said casing due to heat developed at said burner outletswhen gas is burned at said outlets, a bypass conduit between said inletand said outlets and bypassing said main valve, a bypass valvecontrolling said bypass conduit, a torch adapted to play a jet of flameadjacent said outlets, a torch conduit lead ing from said inlet to saidtorch, a torch valve controlling said torch conduit, a latch blockinterposed between said torch valve and said by` pass valve so thatmovement of said torch valve to open position opens said bypass valve,and a latch controlled by said main valve for holding said latch blockin position to hold said bypass valve open when said main valve isclosed.

3. A gas burner ignition device comprising, a hollow casing having a gasinlet therein, a hollow burner tube attached to said casing and having aplurality of burner outlets therein, a main valve located in said casingbetween said inlet and said burner tube and controlling the supply ofgas from said inlet to said outlets, a spring in said casing stressingsaid main valve to open position, a rod adjustably secured at one end tosaid burner tube and pressing at its other end against said main valve,a bypass conduit leading from said inlet to said outlets and bypassingsaid main valve, a bypass valve controlling said bypass conduit, a torchadapted to play a jet of flame adjacent said outlets, a torch conduitleading from said inlet to said torch, a torch valve controlling saidtorch conduit, a latch block interposed between said torch valve andsaid bypass valve so that movement of said torch valve to open positionopens said bypass valve, and a latch controlled by said main valve forholding said latch block in position to hold said bypass valve open whensaid main valve is closed.

4. A valve casing providing a fluid way, a main valve in the fluid way,means to open and close the main valve, a by-pass conduit communicatingwith the fluid Way on either side of the main valve, a by-pass valve inthe conduit, means to open the by-pass valve, a trigger loosely fittingin a recess in a face of the main valve and urged to follow the movementof the main valve by a spring member seated against said trigger and thevalve casing, said trigger acting to automatically restrain the by-passvalve in open position when opened with the main valve in closedposition and for automatically releasing the by-pass valve upon movementof the main valve from its closed position, and means for automaticallyclosing the by-pass valve upon such release.

5. A valve casing providing a uid way, a main valve in the fluid Way,means to open and close the main Valve, a by-pass conduit communicatingwith the fluid Way on either side of the main valve, a by-pass valve inthe conduit, means to open the by-pass valve, a trigger tting loosely ina recess in a base of the main valve and urged to follow the movement ofthe valve by a spring member seated against said trigger and said valvecasing, said trigger provided with a trigger pin arranged in slidingengagement with a bushing' in said casing and extending there throughand beyond the face of said bushing in the closed position of the mainvalve, said trigger serving to automatically restrain the by-pass valvein the open position when opened with the main valve in closed positionand for automatically releasing the by-pass valve upon movement of themain valve from its closed position, means for adjusting the projectionof the end of said trigger pin beyond the face of said bushing, andmeans for automatically closing the by-pass valve upon said release.

FRANCIS A. WEGENER.

